Surf Fisherman Catches Delaware State Record Striped Bass

Delaware has a new state record striped bass: A 52-pound fish landed by Ben Smith on Dec. 8.

Smith, from Bryn Mawr, Pa., was surf fishing at the Delaware Seashore State Park. The striper measured 51 inches long (yeah, that’s over 4 feet), with a girth of 30 inches. The fish was weighed on certified scale at the Old Inlet Bait & Tackle in Rehoboth Beach and then verified by DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section Sr. Cpl. Douglas Messeck.

The previous record of 51 pounds, 8 ounces, was set in 1978. While the breaking of this 34-year-old record has excited many in the fishing community, Smith remains modest about his catch.